Corrugated metal end for railway-cars



C. T. STERBERG.

CORRUGATED METAL END FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATIQN FILED APR. I6, |921.

1,398,24L Patent Nov. 29, 1921.-.

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PATENT GFFECE,

CARL THEODOB OSTERBERG, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 A. 0. SMITH CORPORATIQN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0E NEW YORK.

CORR'UGATED METAL END FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 192i.,

Application led April i6, 1921. Serial No. 461,816.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL THEODOB OSTER- BERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and .State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corrugated Metal` Ends for Rallway-Cars; and l do declare the followlng to be a clear, exact, and complete description thereof, 'such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains vto make and use the same, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of one form' in which my invention has been embodied.

My invention relates to the metallic end unit construction of railway freight cars, in which the end plate used in the structure is of the type which is provided withcorrugations extending entirely across the plate, or from one edge thereof to the other.

Freight car end units embracing end plates so corrugated have certain recognized advantages of great value, from a manufacturing standpont, when compared with end plates provided with corrugations the length of which is less than that of the full width of the plate in which the corrugations are formed, in that end plates provided with corrugations extending from edge to edge thereof. may be produced without subjecting t-he metal of the plate to the tensional stresses encountered in forming corrugations of less than the width ofthe plate. The tensional stresses to which the plates are subjected in forming corrugations of the last mentioned nature, tend to disturb the integrity of the plate to such an extent that the latter is` greatly weakened, and its powers of resistance and durability are seriously impaired.

But an obstacle to the use of end plates provided with corrugations which extend from edge to edge thereof, has existed in the diiculties heretofore encountered in providing a satisfactorily constructed corner piece for the car end with which end plates so corrugated could be connected, and by means of which the end plate is supported in position at the end of the car. Such diiiiculties reside mainly in the-inability to produce an approved pressed-steel corner piece, corrugated so as to receive the corrugated margins of the end plate. In producing such corrugations in the corner piece, an excessive displacement of the metal is found to take place, the resulting distortion being such that the elastic limit of the metal is frequently exceeded, and consequentl the structure of the corner piece is so wea ened that its strength and durability are impaired 1n such a degree as to render it undesirable from the standpoint of efficient service.

My present invention 4has been designed wrtha v iew to overcomiing the objections existing 1n prior structures, and it enables me to produce a car end structural unit which is entirely free from the manufacturing ditculties heretofore encountered. It also enables'me to completely eliminate the weaknesses in the structure incident to the excessive distortion of the metal, hereinbefore adverted to as occurring in the formation of a corrugated corner piece, as Well as that which occurs in producing an end plate having corrugations which do not extend from one edgeof the plate to the other. As a consequence, I produce a railway freight car end unit in which no injurious distortion of the metal has taken place, and so preserve in each of the elements constituting such unit, the inherent rigidity residing in the plates as they come from the rolling mill. This feature is a valuable one, in that my invention maybe practised without subjecting the plates to a heating operation, such as would act to soften them and impair their initial rigidity.

My invention resides in' an improved corner post of special constructioxnit having side and end flanges angularly dis osed with relation to each other, the post eing designed for use in connection with a metallic end plate with corrugations which extend from one end thereof to the other. The construction of the corner post is such that an unobstructed formed, whereby the side margins of the corrugated endplate are permitted to extend across and bear directly against the inner face of the end ange o'f the corner post,- the sinuous edge of the corrugated end plate approaching closely or abutting the inner face of the side ange of the corner post.

One of such corner posts is arranged at each vertical margin of the corrugated end plate, and union of the parts is elfected by means of rivets passed through registering interior 'r' angle is perforations inthe end flange or web of the corner post and in overlapping margins of the corrugatedv end plate. When so assembled, the ends of outer ridges of the corrugated end plate rest against the inner face of the end flanges or webs of the corner posts, the rivets employed to unite the elements together being passed through the parts at their points of contact.

The end flange or web of the corner post, which I preferably draw into shape from a sheet of steel of suitable gage, is inturned at its inner longitudinal margin, so as to provide a sinuous or serpentine rib, the transverse serrations of which have the exact formation of the corrugations of the end plate, so that such serrations engage and interlock with the corrugations of the end plate near the side margins of the latter, and afford a firm support for the end plate. The serrations of the rib act also to close the pockets formed between the side flange of the corner post and the corrugations at the marginal portions of the end plate, and effectively dam the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate against the entrance and accumulation of foreign substances in such pockets.

M v invention also resides in a car end unit comprising the combination of an end plate corrugated from edge to edge, and a pair of specially constructed corner posts to which the corrugated end plate is attached, and b v means of which corner posts the corrugated end plate is supported in its proper relative position in the car structure.

My present invention has greatly simplified structures of the present class, and has enabled me to produce, at a greatly reduced constructional expense, a railway freight car end unit of approved form comprising an end plate corrugated from edge to edge and two specially constructed corner posts for the recept-ion and support of the end plate, and which fully meets all of' the requirements and burdens imposed in traffic upon structures of this kind.

The novel features of my invention will be hereinafter described in detail and pointed out in the appended claims.

'Referring to the drawing which-accompanies this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a corrugated metallic end for freight cars, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 1s a horizontal sectionalvview .of the same construct1on, showing the manner `of the engagement of one margin of the corrugated end plate with the corner post to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of my improved post, which in this view appears turned at an angle of 90.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of a steel plate from which my improved post may be stamped, the dotted area at the right indicating the marginal portion of the plate which is cut away in the blanking operation to produce the serrated rib.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates an end plate formed lfrom a sheet of steel of suitable dimensions and gage, and provided with horizontal corrugations which extend from edge to edge of the plate, and which may be produced in the plate in any desired manner, as by rolling or stamping, either hot or cold. My improved corner post 11, is preferably pressed or drawn from a strip of steel of a gage sufficient to endow the post with the necessary degree of strength and durability. The plate 12 is provided with a sideflange 13, to embrace and be attached to the side of the freight car, and an end flange or rib 14, standing at an angle of a proximately 90o with respect to the si e flange. The inner Vertical margin of the end flange or web 14. is inturned so as to form a longitudinal rib 15, standing normal to the plane of the end flange 14, and extending parallel with the side flange 13.

The rib 15 is serrated across its edge in the plane of the end flange or web 14, the bottom of the serrations being formed flush with the inner surface ofthe said end flange or web, as shown in Fig. 2, so as 'to constitute an elongated bearing for the outer ridges of the corrugated end plate. The serrations in the rib 15 are cut to correspond with the corrugations of the end plate, so that when the parts are brought into engagement, the outer ridges of the corrugations at the margin of the end plate cross the channel formed by the side flange 13 and rib 15, and rest against the-inner surface of the flange or web 14, which forms the lbottom of the said channel, the serrations of the longitudinal rib 15 filling or damming the uter valleys of the corrugations of the end plate 10, and making a tight joint between the parts to prevent the entrance and accumulation of foreign matter. faces of the end flanges or webs of the corner posts st-and out with a renounced ribbed effect, forming a setting or the paneled end of the unit, and creating a finished end of pleasing appearance.

The/end plate is secured to the corner posts by means of rivets 16, passing through registering holes in the parts in the manner shown, it being desirable thatlone or more rivets be inserted in the inner valleys of the corrugated end plate and passed through the outer ridges of the corrugations and the end flange or web ofthe corner post, at the points of contact, such 'rivets being located within the space defined as a channel by the side flange 13 and parallel serrated rib 15.

My improvement enables me to produce a `corner post without subjecting the metal At the same time, the flat` thereof to vany displacement or distortion, such as has heretofore been inseparable from the production'of previous structures of this class. The serrated rib l5 may be produced by a blanking operation performed upon the flat plate before the same is drawn into the angular form of the corner post, as shown in F ig. 4, or it may be performed upon the post after the latter has been pressed into its angular shape, as shown in the other figures.. In either instance, the objectionable displacement or distortion of the metal occurring in previous attempts to form corrugations upon the end flange or web of the corner post is eliminated. The structurels such that the edges of the corrugated end plate may be made to enter the angle of the corner post, With the sinuous edge of the end plate closely approaching or abutting the inner face of the side flange of the post, at' which time the parts, when secured together, are in such proximity as to constitute a structure of extraordinary strength.

The end plate 10 may be formed as a single corrugated plate, or it may be constitilted of a plurality,7 of corrugated sections with tlreir over-lapping edges secured together on a horizontal line, as is now commonly practised. i

ll'hile I prefer to draw my flanged corner post into shape from a steel strip, because of its possession of the qualities of lightness and elasticityI` as well as durability and ample rigidity, it is obvious that such corner post might be formed as a steel casting. But the latter construction would necessitate a greater relative increase in the weight of the corner post, to provide a resistance equal to that of the pressed steel post. Moreover, a cast-steel post does not possess the quality of elasticity which is very desirable in structures of' this class.

After the elements forming the car end unit have been assembled and secured together, the joints should be heavily slushed with metallic paint to exclude moisture.

The advantages which flow from the use of my invention` from the standpoint of manufacture and economical production, as well as durability of structure, are obvious, and need not be further related.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a railway car construction, a corrugated metallic end plate, in combination with a pair of angular corner posts each having an end flange or Web for attachment of the end plate, means for damming the outer valleys of the corrugated en'd plate at the' vertical edge'of the ,end flange or web. and means for securing the corrugated en plate to the corner posts at points between the dams and the angle of the post.

2. In a railway car construction, a corrugated metallic end plate, in combination with a pair of angular corner posts each having an end flange or web to which a vertical margin of the corrugated end plate is adapted to be attached, means on the end flange or web for damming the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate, and means for securing the corrugated end plate to the corner posts at points between the dams and the angle of the corner post.

In a railway car construction, a corrugated metallic end plate, in combination with a pair of corner posts each having a plane flange or web against which the outer ridges of the corrugated end plate are adapted to bear, means for damming the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate, and means located in the inner valleys of the corrugated end plate for attaching the end plate to the plane flanges or webs of the corner posts at points between the dams and the edges ofthe end plate.

L In a railway car construction, a corrugated metallic end plate, in combination with a pair of angular corner posts each having a plane flange or web against Which the outer ridges of the corrugated end plate are adapted to bear, means for securing the end plate to the said flanges or webs at the points of contact, and means for damming the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate along the vertical edge of the said flanges or webs.

In a railway car construction, a corrugated metallic end plate, in combination with a pair of corner posts each having a side flange for attachment to the side of the car and an end flange or webagainst the plane surface of which latter flange the outer ridges of the corrugated end plate are adapted to bear, means on the end flanges or webs for damming the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate along the edge of the end flange or web, and means for uniting the corrugated end plate to the end flanges or webs with the sinuous edges of the said end plate abutting the side flanges of the corner posts.

6. In a` railway car construction, a metallic end )late provided with corrugations extending rom edge to edgethereof, in combination with a pair of corner posts each having side and end flanges or Webs, means on the end flange or Web of the corner post for engaging and interlocking with the corrugations of the end plate, and means for securing the end plate to the end flanges or Webs of the corner posts at points in'termedi ate the side flange and the said engaging and interlocking means. 1

7. In a railway car construction, a metallic end plate provided With corrugations extending from edge to edge thereof, in combination with a pair of corner posts each having side and end flanges or webs with a serrated rib 0n each end flange or web parallel to the side flange, the serrations on the rib engaging and interlocking with the corrugations of the end plate, and means for connecting the corrugated end plate to the corner posts at points between the serrated rib and the side flange.

8. In a railway car construction, a metallic end plate provided with corrugations extending from edge to edge thereof, in combination with a pair of corner posts each\ having side and end flanges or webs formed as plane surfaces withI a serrated rib von each end flange 0r web parallel with the side flange to constitute a channel, the serrations of the rib engaging and interlocking with the corrugations of the end plate, and means for securing the end plate to the end flange or web of the posts, such securing means being arranged in the said channel.

9. In a -railway car construction, a. metallic corner post provided with a side flange adapted to embrace and be attached to the side of a car and an end flange or web for attachment thereto of a corrugated end plate and against the plane surface of which end flange or web the outer ridges of the corrugated end plate are adapted to bear, the said end flange or web being provided with a rib standing parallel to the sideflan'ge and serrated along its edge to engage and interlock with the corrugations of the end plate.

10. A pressed-steel corner post for the end unit of a railway freight car, the said corner post having a side flange whereby the post may be attached to the car structure, an end flange or web angularly disposed with relation to the side flange and to which the corrugated end plate of the car end unit is adapted to be attached, and a serrated rib on the end flange or web extending parallel to the side flange, the serrations of the rib being adapted to engage and interlock with the corrugations of the en d plate when the latter is appliedthereto. l

11. An. angular corner post for the end unit of a railway car, the said post comprising a side flange for attachment to the car structure and an end flange or web to which the end plate of the unit is adapted to be attached, the end flange or web being provided at the edge thereof with a serrated rib parallel to the side flange, the serrations of the rib being formed to engage and interlock with the outer corrugations of the end plate when the latter is a plied to the end flange or web and to dam t e valleys of said corrugations along the edge of the end flange or web.

l2. A pressed-steel corner post forthe end unit 0f a railway car, such post having an end flange or web perforated for the attachment thereto of a corrugated end plate and a serrated rib on the edge thereof, the serrations of the rib being adapted to engage and interlock with the corrugations of the end plate when the latter is attached thereto, and to dam the outer valleys of the corrugated end plate along the edge of the end flange or web.

13. A flange corner post for the end unit of a railway car, the said post having a side attaching flange and an end flange or web, the latter being formed as a plane surface with aserrated rib extending along the edge thereof, the lower line of the serrations of the rib being flush with the plane surface of the end flange or web, to constitute an elongated bearing for the outer ridges of a corrugated end plate whn the latter is applied thereto and to dam the valleys between such ridges along the edge of the said end flange or web.

14. An angular corner post for the end unit of a railway car, the said post having a side attaching flange and an end flange or web, a serrated rib in conjunction with the end flange or web, the lower line of the serration of the rib being flush with the adjacent surface of the end flanges or web, to constitute a seat for the outer ridges of a corrugated end plate when the latter is applied to the corner post.

15. An angular corner post for the end unit of a railway car, the said corner post embodying in its 'construction an end flange or web formed Aas a plane surface against which the outer ridges of a corrugated end plate are adapted to bear and to which the end plate is t0 be secured, and a longitudinal rib standing normal to the plane of the end flange or web, the said rib having transverse serrations adapted to engage and interlock with the corrugations of the end plate when the latter is applied to the corner post, and to dam the valleys between said ridges along the edge of the said end flange or web.

In testimony whereof, I have signed In pane at Milwaukee this 12th day of Apri C. THEO. OSTERBERG.

Witnesses:

W. F. WooLARD, GLADYS McGill-1E. 

